Full Moon Names

Full Moon Names History

Full Moon names have been used by many cultures to describe the full moon throughout the year. Different full moon names can be found among the Chinese, Celtic, Old English, and New Guinea cultures, among others. In addition, the Native American tribes used moon phases and cycles to keep track of the seasons by giving a distinctive name to each recurring full moon. The unique full moon names were used to identify the entire month during which each occurred.

Although many Native American bribes gave distinct names to the full moon, the most well known full moon names come from the Algonquin tribes who lived in the area of New England and westward to Lake Superior. The Algonquin tribes had perhaps the greatest effect on the early European settlers in America, and the settlers adopted the Native American habit of naming the full moons. European settlers even invented some of their own full moon names that have been passed down through time.

Full Moon Names, Meanings and Dates

Full Moon Names

The full moon names given below aren’t the only ones that have been used. Every full moon, with one exception, had variations on its name among various Algonquin tribes, not to mention other tribes throughout North America. But the full moon names below are the most common. In addition, since the lunar month is only 29 days long on the average, the full moon dates shift from year to year.

For more information regarding the exact dates of these full moons, please see our full moon calendar.

Wolf Moon – January

The Wolf Moon is named after the wolf packs that howled hungrily outside of Native American villages in the cold and deep snows of midwinter January. The January full moon name was sometimes the Old Moon, the Moon After Yule, and even the Full Snow Moon.

Snow Moon – February

Since the snow piles heaviest in February, Native American tribes often called this moon the Snow Moon. Among tribes that used this full moon name for the January moon, the February moon was called the Hunger Moon due to the harsh hunting conditions.

Worm Moon – March

As the temperature increases and the snow begins to melt in March, the ground softens and earthworms begin to show their heads under the Worm Moon. Other signs of spring such as the cawing of crows (the Crow Moon), the crusts of snow (the Crust Moon), and the time for tapping of maple trees (the Sap Moon) gave rise to full moon name variations. To the European settlers, this moon was also known as the the Lenten Moon and was considered to be the last full moon of winter.

Pink Moon – April

April brings the appearance of flowers and the herb moss pink or wild ground phlox, which is one of the earliest widespread flowers of the spring and the inspiration of the name Pink Moon. Other full moon names include Sprouting Grass Moon, Egg Moon, and Fish Moon.

Flower Moon – May

Strawberry Moon – June

The Strawberry Moon is universal to every Algonquin tribe and was named after the season for harvesting strawberries. European settlers called this moon the Rose Moon.

Buck Moon – July

The new antlers of buck deer start growing in July, giving the Buck Moon its name. The full moon name for July’s full moon was also the Thunder Moon because of frequent thunderstorms during this time. One other common name was the Hay Moon.

Sturgeon Moon – August

The fishing tribes are given credit for naming the Sturgeon Moon since the sturgeon, a large fish of the Great Lakes, were most readily caught during this month. Other full moon names include the Red Moon, Green Corn Moon, and Grain Moon.

Harvest Moon – September

September’s Harvest Moon was named because many of the Native American’s tribes’ staple foods were ready to be harvested around this time. However, the Harvest Moon does not always occur in September. Traditionally, the name goes to the full moon closest to the autumn equinox, which falls during October once or twice a decade. Sometimes the September full moon name was the Corn Moon because it marked when corn was supposed to be harvested.

Hunters Moon – October

October’s full moon is referred to as the Hunters Moon because after the fields have been reaped, the leaves begin to fall and the deer are fat and ready for eating. Hunters can ride easily over the fields’ stubble, and the fox and other animals are more easily spotted. Some years the Harvest Moon falls in October instead of September. Th full moon name for October’s full moon was also the Blood Moon or Sanguine Moon because of its bright color.

Beaver Moon – November

Beavers being to actively prepare for the winter in November, giving the Beaver Moon its name. Some tribes referred to this full moon as the Frost Moon.

Cold Moon – December

During December, the winter cold fastens its grip and the nights are at their longest and darkest, giving the Cold Moon its name. This moon is sometimes called the Long Night Moon as the winter nights lengthen. The full moon name often used by Christian settlers is the Moon Before Yule.

Blue Moon

Each year, the moon completes its final cycle about 11 days before the Earth finishes its orbit around the sun. These days add up, and every two and a half years or so, there is an extra full moon, called a Blue Moon. The origin of the term is uncertain, and its precise definition has changed over the years. The term is commonly used today to describe the second full moon of a calendar month, but it was originally the name given to the third full moon of a season containing four full moons.

Moon Phases, Full Moons and Moon Calendars

As the Moon orbits Earth, it changes phase in an orderly way. Follow these links to understand the various phases of the moon.